Thank you for another interactivity nod!

My run in Wisconsin has finally come to its end. Last night we earned a regional EMMY in Chicago for interactivity. It was the ninth EMMY for me and the fifth consecutive for interactivity (in Chicago and Nashville.) I can't put into words how grateful and humbled I feel.

Twitter: @JimVanDillen

Jim and I didn't get to go back to Chicago for the weekend. We wanted to see all of our pals but we just couldn't swing it. Instead we hung out with some friends and then came home just in time to turn on the livestream. We were pretty lowkey, we didn't mention it to anyone in Seattle because frankly, who would care. But it is an incredible feeling to have found a niche and give new-ish meaning to what we do as journalists each day.

From the 2016 winning entry - Leah Linscheid in the snow with viewers watching along

The blessing is that I'm just getting started at KING 5, moving towards something similar to what I've done for the last five or six years. It's really been great to start talking with viewers again on social and trying to be relevant in their lives. AND the coolest thing is that everyone is working together to make it happen. I'm just a small part of it.

You know, we've got all this fancy equipment - which is incredible - but it costs nothing to actually have a genuine conversation with the people we're supposed to be serving. That's always been my philosophy and that will always be my motivation. I could get on my soapbox about relevant social media but I'll just sit tight.​

Twitter: @BrianWestbrook

I think in this day and age, it's so important for journalists to be genuine and transparent. I have enjoyed watching and learning from some great, intelligent people (ahem, Amy Wood, Stephen Clark, Sarah Hill, Maria Quiban, Melissa Carlson, Stefanie Cruz, Shelly Leslie...) and I think it's really important to mention journalists are all still learning from each other. I could never do what I do without the incredible support from my peers and mentors! Plus, the competition keeps getting tougher and tougher out there, so we are all helping each other get better and better. 

Thank you for another incredible year. It saddens me that I'm no longer in Wisconsin (or North Carolina or Missouri) but we are all still as connected as we let ourselves be.

On a personal note, thank you for following me and supporting my dreams. I hardly ever write about the difficult times, the struggles, the challenges... because I don't want to bog anyone down. But it has been a long journey and there have (and still are) times when Jim and I don't know what the hell we're doing with our lives. But we carry on and we thank our family and friends for their support. 

What we do is not about awards and it never has been. But it is nice to be recognized for work that we believe is relevant and important.

Thanks!

​xo